GRANITE

Quartzis a man-made product crushed, mixed with resin in a ratio of 93% quartz to 7% resin that is pressed, heated and colored resembling natural stone. It is an engineered product manufactured in a variety of different patterns and colors.

Granite is a natural product formed from minerals and stones coming from quarries directly from the earth as a single chunk. This all natural stone taken out as large blocks that are cut into individual slabs. These materials are pressed together at extremely high pressure and temperatures deep within the earth, and eventually form granite stones.

Pros and Cons of Quartz & Granite

Quartz
1. Quartz countertops are just as strong as granite but have the added benefit of being more flexible. This makes them easier to work with during the installation process.
2. Quartz is non-porous and does not require any sealing – ever. These stones offer a virtually no-maintenance material solution for countertops.
3. These counters are also very durable but they cannot be considered indestructible either. They are stain-resistant as well so dropping a glass of wine on them simply requires a quick cleanup.
4. One drawback that you should definitely take note of is these counters can discolor over time when exposed to direct sunlight. If you have a part of your counter that receives some of the UV rays from the sun while another part doesn’t, over time you may see a color difference.
5. These countertops need to be professionally installed and quartz is even heavier than granite.
6. You can expect to see seams with a quartz counter but they will be less visible if you choose a slab that’s darker in color. As well, the seams are easier to hide when you choose quartz because the counter has been colored and manufactured. If you buy a quartz countertop in a solid color, it’s much easier to hide the seam to a certain extent.

With granite, the natural veins and colors in the stone will never allow the seams to appear less visible.

Granite
1. The appearance is not uniform. These stones are coming right out of the earth and are not perfectly designed by nature. For some this will be a benefit while others will consider it to be a drawback.
2. Granite countertops will need to be sealed before they are used and this will be done by Wise Stone Choice with their 15 year Dry Treat sealer. Granite is a porous stone and can only be considered to be stain-resistant if it has been sealed properly. If for any reason the sealant on the counter gets compromised, your countertop can get stained.
3. Countertops made of granite are extremely durable but should not be considered to be indestructible. It is a natural rock and can break or chip if subjected to heavy abuse. For regular day-to-day activities though, and with proper maintenance, this is a countertop that can last for a lifetime and beyond.
4. The stones are heavy and require a professional installation. Don’t even think of hiring your neighborhood handyman to put in your new countertop to save a few dollars.
5. It’s impossible to hide the seams in a granite counter. Expect the seams to show up once it has been installed.

The samples that you see can slightly differ from the stone that you receive. Keep in mind that these are naturally occurring slabs so the samples cannot be a true 100% reflection of the stone you are ordering. There may be color variances or occlusions in the stone you receive that gives the slab a slightly different appearance.